Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

[r] Actress Catherine O'Hara talks about her start with the Second City's SCTV, blockbuster success with Beetlejuice and Home Alone, and her perfect encapsulation of comic absurdity in Christopher Guest films like Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind. But first, Jesse talks to Big Boi — one half of OutKast. The hip hop duo swung back and forth across the spectrum of popular music — zigging with cult favorites like "ATliens" and zagging with top 40 hits like "The Way You Move". Plus, the hosts of My Brother , My Brother and Me offer some advice for your pressing pop culture problems, and Jesse talks about the magical thing that a man built inside his rented garage. [The segments in this episode aired earlier this year.]Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Guest host Jordan Morris is back to talk with Brett Gurewitz. Not only is he a founding member of Bad Religion, he also owns the juggernaut independent punk label Epitaph Records. Jordan asks Brett about his career with Bad Religion and the effect fame and money can have on punk music. Then later, Jesse Thorn talks to stand-up comedian Jimmy Pardo about how he's been able to craft a perfect sense of artful carelessness in his act. Plus, Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum talk about the roots of their Prince cover band and Jordan talks about the comic book that finally turned him on to Superman.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Guest host Jordan Morris sits down with actor Greg Sestero and journalist Tom Bissell. In 2003, Greg co-starred in a movie called "The Room". Its stilted dialogue, weird plot points and bizarre aesthetics turned the movie into a cult hit. There were a lot of questions about how and why it was made, so Greg worked with Tom Bissell to write a book about the film and its eccentric director Tommy Wiseau. Then later we revisit Jesse's conversation with fashion blogging star Tavi Gevinson. She'll talk about how weird it is to be a teenager in the world of fashion and why her website Rookie is alternative, but not in the way you'd expect. Plus, Jordan asks the LA Times' Carolyn Kellogg about what two books you should be reading right now and we play exclusive material from Kyle Kinane's stand-up comedy set at this year's MaxFunCon.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Take a listen to our show taped live at KPCC's Crawford Family Forum! Bill Hader reveals some of his favorite characters that never made it onto SNL, talks about what it felt like to say goodbye to Stefon, and then storms out of the room shouting expletives at Jesse. Also, June Diane Raphael talks about how she met her longtime collaborator Casey Wilson. Their new movie is called Ass Backwards. Plus, we hear a song from the band The Internet. And be sure not to miss one of Jesse's most important Outshots ever.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Elizabeth Gilbert's new novel traces the life of a woman living in the 19th century as a botanist. Jesse will ask Elizabeth about what the reaction to 'Eat, Pray, Love' has meant to her — both the good and the not-so-good. Then Jesse sits down with Gillian Jacobs. She plays Britta on the NBC sitcom Community. Plus, Portlandia's Fred Armisen talks about the album he wishes HE had made; our film critic buddies at The Dissolve pick out a couple of films you'll want to watch ASAP, and Jesse tells you why a perfect balance between the real and unreal makes one particular video game so enticing.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

[r] Tune in for a rare interview with the soul legend Bill Withers. He retired from the music industry in the mid 1980s and, with a few exceptions, has stayed out of the public eye for more than 20 years. He and Jesse will talk about why he enlisted in the Navy, the challenge of making his first record in his thirties, and why he ultimately retired from the music industry. Plus, Pitchfork and Grantland writer Ian Cohen will bring in a couple of his all-time favorite heavy records; Brad Tolinski will share the album that kicked off a new era of rock in the 70s, then Davy Rothbart from FOUND magazine offers up a couple of his best finds. And lastly, Jesse will tell you about the NewsRadio scene that makes him laugh every single time he watches it. Spoiler alert: it's all Phil Hartman's fault.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nick Offerman plays Ron Swanson on Parks & Recreation. Swanson is one of the most beloved characters on TV... known for his love of meat, his hatred of big government, and his healthy mustache. Jesse also talks to a few of the members from the sketch comedy group The Birthday Boys. They talk about what it's like to make a TV show with their comedy hero, Bob Odenkirk. Plus, painter Brandon Bird talks about the day he became an artist; the folks from NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour tell you about a couple of their favorite new things, and Jesse talks about why it's worth following Michael Palin around the world.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nicole Holofcener has written and directed five films. The fifth, her newest is called 'Enough Said'. It's a sweet and sharp movie starring Julia Louis Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini. The movie looks at a bunch of life-stuff — the aftermath of divorce, how tough it is to make new friends as an adult, and the weird ways we deal with people who might be richer or poorer than we are. And then later, we go from the end of marriage, to the beginning. 'Husbands' is a sitcom that lives on the web. It was created by Brad Bell and the longtime TV writer Jane Espenson. Jesse sits down to talk with both of them. Plus, Erik Adams from The AV Club shares a couple of off-the-radar TV picks for the Fall.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Junot Diaz has a book of short stories out now in paperback. It's called 'This Is How You Lose Her.' Junot's book is new, but the protagonist Yunior isn't. This is the third time the Pulitzer Prize-winning author has written about him. Is Yunior just an alter-ego for Diaz? Jesse will ask. Then, we revisit Jesse's interview with the actress Carrie Fisher. She'll talk about what it's like to play one of the most recognizable characters in movie history. Later in life, Fisher was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and then treated it with electroshock therapy. She'll talk about what that was like, too. Plus, the hosts of My Brother My Brother and Me answer listeners' pressing pop culture problems; Ian Cohen introduces us to a couple of great new heavy records; and in the wake of The Accidental Racist, Jesse will tell you about a record that mixed country and hip-hop to the benefit of both.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Stephen Merchant says he didn't get into comedy to become popular. He did it mostly to please himself. But then, with his buddy Ricky Gervais, he made a TV show called 'The Office' and it changed both of their lives. Jesse and Stephen talk about how the original version of the immensely popular sitcom was created, and why it was tough for the pair to decide on what to make next. They'll also talk about Stephen Merchant's new series for HBO called 'Hello Ladies.' Plus, comedy from Myq Kaplan, and Jesse plays the one song that is absolutely, 100% guaranteed to get any dance floor MOVING.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy